Desmanthus leptophyllus

Shrubs, erect, much-branched, 4–30 dm. Stems glabrous. Leaves 4.4–11 cm; stipules persistent, 3.3–9.5 mm, with small, membranous margins at base, glabrous or pubescent; petiole 3–14 mm; pinnae 4–8 pairs; nectary sessile, crateriform or flattened, between proximal pair of pinnae, rarely also between distal pairs of pinnae; leaflets 32–72, blades 2.1–5.7 mm, venation obscure except for nearly centric midvein, surfaces glabrous. Peduncles 0.8–2.7 cm, 1–3.3 cm in fruit. Heads 1 per axil, 5–12-flowered; sterile flowers 0(1 or 2) per head; staminate and bisexual flowers 5–11 per head. Flowers: stamens 10; staminodia 0.5 mm; style not exserted beyond stamens. Legumes reddish brown to nearly black, usually straight, sometimes recurved, linear, not constricted between seeds, dehiscent along both sutures, 5.5–8.5 cm × 3.2–5 mm, apex acute, apiculate with beak to 3 mm.

Phenology: Flowering and fruiting Sep–Jan.
Habitat: Coastal thickets, marshes, waste places, roadsides.
Elevation: 0–50 m.

Introduced; Fla., Mexico, West Indies, Central America, South America.

Discussion

Part of the Desmanthus virgatus complex, D. leptophyllus differs from D. virgatus in the flora area by having more pinnae and leaflets and an erect rather than decumbent or prostrate habit. In the flora area, it is known from relatively few collections and is likely introduced.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa